Tunica repair with acellular bladder matrix maintains corporal tissue function

Abstract

Penile conditions, such as Peyronie's disease or tumor resection may require surgical reconstruction of the tunica albuginea. Various materials have been proposed, as a biomaterial for tunica albuginea repair, however, little functional data are available. We examined the applicability and functional outcome of a collagen-based matrix derived from the bladder (acellular bladder matrix (ABM)), as a biomaterial for tunica repair. Biocompatibility testing was performed on the matrix, which included mitochondrial metabolic activity, cell viability and apoptosis. Approximately 50% of the dorsal penile tunica albuginea was replaced with the collagen-based matrix patch after surgical removal in 24 New Zealand White rabbits. Cavernosometry and cavernosography were performed. The animals were killed 1, 2 and 3 months after surgery for analyses. The matrix showed excellent biocompatibility. All animals implanted with the matrix survived without any noticeable untoward effects. There was no evidence of inflammation or infection at the time of retrieval. Cavernosometry of the implanted animals demonstrated normal intracavernosal pressures with visual erections. Cavernosography of the repaired corpora showed a normal anatomical configuration. Biomechanical analysis of the retrieved matrices demonstrated similar tensile strengths as native tunica. Histologically, there was only a minimal inflammatory response, which gradually decreased over time. These results show that ABM is biocompatible, durable and effective when used as a tunica substitute. The matrix may be useful as an off-the-shelf biomaterial for patients requiring tunica albuginea repair.

Time-dependent bladder tissue regeneration using bilayer bladder acellular matrix graft-silk fibroin scaffolds in a rat bladder augmentation model

“…Moreover, BAMGs exhibit good biocompatibility and support 67 tissue regeneration [9], and several studies have indicated that 68 BAMG is a suitable scaffold for bladder reconstruction [6,10,11]. 69 In addition, BAMGs have also been shown to prevent permeation 70 of luminal contents into the abdominal cavity [12]. Although mul-71 tilayered urothelial tissues have been shown to be generated by 72 implantation of a simple BAMG scaffold in the bladder, these dense 73 and smooth BAMGs cannot promote satisfactory smooth muscle 74 regeneration, vessel formation, and nerve tissue regeneration, par-75 ticularly for seeding cells or host tissue penetration into the scaf-76 fold [10,13].…”

One and four layer acellular bladder matrix for fascial tissue reconstruction

“…The matrix has been shown to be biocompatible [24][25][26], is processed easily, and has good tissue-handling characteristics.…”

Composite scaffolds for the engineering of hollow organs and tissues

“…Each type of biomaterials has desirable traits which are exclusive of the other. Acellular tissue matrices possess the desired biocompatibility (11)(12)(13), contain biomimetic factors (14)(15)(16)) that promote tissue development and have adhesion domain sequences (e.g., RGD) that may assist in retaining the phenotype and activity of many types of cells (17). These matrices are known to slowly degrade upon implantation and are usually replaced and remodeled by ECM proteins synthesized and secreted by transplanted or ingrowing cells (18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25).…”